Cushioning and covering means for portable electrical devices

ABSTRACT

The present invention essentially relates to an improved covering and cushioning means in particular for small electric hand-apparatus, of the type comprising at least one plastic plate applied on the wall of the said apparatus, said plate being provided on its inner face with a plurality of pins adapted to be inserted into corresponding holes provided in the said wall and which pins protrude beyond the other side of said wall and are heated or flattened in rivet-like manner on the other side of the said wall so said means will be held in position of the said wall.

Aug. 21, 1973 M. M. A. TROUILHET 3,753,846

CUSHIONING AND COVERING MEANS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRICAL DEVICES Filed March 9, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 "h1g1: E.

1973 M. M. A. TROUILHET 3,753,846

CUSHIONING AND COVERING MEANS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRICAL DEVICES Filed March 9, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 United States Patent '6 3,753,846 CUSHIONING AND COVERING MEANS FOR PORTABLE ELECTRICAL DEVICES Maurice Marie Achille Trouilhet, Lyon, France, assignor to Calor Filed Mar. 9, 1971, Ser. No. 122,377

Claims priority, application France, Mar. 17, 1970, 7009540; Feb. 12, 1971, 7104788 Int. Cl. F16f /12; B32!) 3/26, 3/30 US. Cl. 161111 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates generally to a cushioning and covering means and concerns more particularly an improved covering and cushioning means for small electric hand-apparatus such as razors or vibro-massage devices.

Coverings are already known which are called damping cushions and are adapted to be aflixed to small electric hand-apparatus. Such cushions were usually made of leather or flexible plastic material so as to allow a better and more pleasant grip of the hand on such apparatus.

Up to the present, such cushions were usually constituted by a plate or ply of foam-plastic material interposed between two plastic sheets or films. The outer sheet could be provided with an ornamental pattern or design, whereas the inner sheet applied onto the apparatus casing was provided with metal securing clips or the like or else it could be coated with an adhesive material enabling it to be afiixed to the apparatus.

Such prior-art cushions in the long run it was found, however would become detached or loosened from the apparatus wall to which they were affixed. Moreover, after the apparatus had been in use for a period of time, the cushions were likely to allow some play with respect to the casing to which they were afiixed.

The purpose of the present invention is to remedy such drawbacks by providing covering and cushioning means for the apparatus which can be mounted very easily and remains undetachable in use.

More specifically, the invention has for its object a very simple and low-cost covering and cushioning means, capable of being moulded as a single piece and which is capable of effectively absorbing the vibrations of such small household-electric appliances when the latter are in use and held in the hand.

Thus, the invention relates to an improved covering and cushioning means, in particular for small electric hand-apparatus, of the type comprising at least one plastic member or plate applied on an outer wall of the said apparatus, characterized in that the said plate is provided on its inner face with a plurality of projecting pins adapted to be inserted into corresponding holes provided in the said wall and of sufiicient length to project outwardly of the other side thereof so that thereafter the protruding portions may be headed or flattened in rivet-like manner at the other side of the said wall and thus to hold the said means in position on the said wall.

The invention also has for its object a covering and cushioning means including a member or plate characterized in that the said plate is additionally provided with an outer sheet secured to said member or plate so as to define a closed space between itself and the plate carrying the said pins.

According to another feature of the invention, the said lining sheet is cast integral with the plate carrying the pins, in which case a hollow space is left between the sheet and the plate.

According to still another feature of the invention, the said space between the plate and the lining sheet is filled with a flexible material such as foam plastic material, in which event the said sheet is secured as by welding along its periphery to the said plate.

The improved covering and cushioning means according to the invention is also characterized in that the inner face of the said plate is provided with a plurality of flexible ribs extending from said face, said ribs serving as partitions and defining spaces between themselves.

It is also worthwhile noting that the said plate carrying the pins advantageously are made of polypropylene.

It is thus understood that the covering and cushioning means according to the invention may comprise a single polypropylene plate or member carrying pins or such a plate carrying on its outer surface an outer lining sheet defining a hollow space between itself and said plate. A cushion for example of foam plastic material or the like may be located in said hollow space between the plate and the lining sheet.

Owing to the structure of the covering and cushioning means according to the invention, it is understood that the said means is capable of efficiently absorbing the vibrations while at the same time remaining firmly held in position on the apparatus casing when the latter is being used.

The invention also has for its object electric household appliances such as for instance razors or vibro-massage devices provided with an improved means according to the invention.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear as the following description proceeds, with reference to the appended drawings given solely by way of example illustrating several embodiments of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one half of an electric razor casing provided with a covering and cushioning means embodying the invention, the said means being partially separated from the said half-casing so as to illustrate clearly the manner of mounting of the said means on the half-casing;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the inner face of the said means;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the half-casing shown in FIG. 1, but shows the inner face of the latter, i.e. the opposite face of the half-casing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a second embodiment of a covering and cushioning means according to the invention, as applied on one of the walls of a small electric apparatus;

FIG. is a sectional view upon the line V-V of the means shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing a third embodiment of a covering and cushioning means according to the invention, and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views illustrating how a series of covering and cushioning means according to the invention can be manufactured.

According to a first embodiment and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an electric razor half-casing 1 having an outer face 2 and an inner face 3 (FIG. 3) is provided with a covering and cushioning means 4 serving to provide a vibration damping and cushioning effect as mounted on the outer face 2 of the half-casing 1.

More specifically, in the case considered the means 4 includes a plate or member 4a of plastic material which has a substantially trapezoidal shape (FIG. 2) and is provided on its inner face with a plurality of pins 5 and with flexible ribs 6, the said pins and ribs being cast integral with the said member 4a. The ribs 6 are preferably in perpendicular relationship to one another and serve as partitions defining hollow spaces 9. As seen in FIG. 1, the outer face of the member 4a is slightly roughened to enable the apparatus to be held conveniently. The outer face of the member 4a may also be provided with any desired ornamental pattern or design.

In order to afiix the means 4 to the half-casing 1, the pins 5 are inserted into the corresponding holes 7 provided in the half-casing 1. Thus, when the means 4 is so mounted on the half-casing, the pins 5 slightly protrude from the other side or inner face of the half casing and the ends of the said pins are then flattened or headed in rivet-like manner for instance as by heating, onto the inner face 3 of the half-casing 1. At 8 in FIG. 3 the end portions of the pins 5 that have been so headed or flattened over against the inner face 3 of the half-casing appear more clearly.

The inner face of the means 4 may be partially submerged in a correspondingly shaped recess provided in the outer face of the half-casing 1, the said recess having of course the same peripheral shape as the said means. The free ends of the pins 5 may be flattened or headed either in the cold or hot state.

As already stated, the member 4a is cast as a single piece, the pins 5 and the flexible ribs 6 being cast integral with the said member.

It is thus understood from the description just presented, that when the means 4 is applied on and affixed to the outer wall of the half-casing 1, the edges of the ribs 6 bear on the underlying outer face of the half-casing and closed hollow spaces 9 then exist between the ribs and the inner face of member 4a proper. Such a structure therefore, because of the space and ribs results in efiicient absorption of vibrations occurring when the apparatus is held in the hand and operated.

Of course the number of pins, the number of ribs and the angle of intersection of the latter may be selected at will. Thus, in addition to the pins distributed on the periphery of the inner face of the cushion 4, as seen in the form of embodiment shown in 'FIGS. 1 to 3, additional pins may also be provided in the medial portion of the said surface as seen in FIG. 3. They may be distributed in any desired manner.

According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, a. plate 4 carries pins 5 adapted to engage into corresponding holes provided in the Wall 10 of a small electric apparatus, the said plate 4a according to this embodiment being provided with an outer lining sheet 11 defining between itself and the plate 4'a a hollow space 12 (FIG. 5). The plate 4'a and lining sheet 11 assembly are advantageously cast in a single piece, which thus forms a very flexible cushion owing to the hollow space 12 between the plate 4a and the sheet 11. The latter may of course be provided with any desired ornamental pattern or design or have the appearance of artificial leather.

It is thus understood that the covering and cushioning means just described oifers still greater flexibility than if only the means were used, as described in the first em bodiment of FIGS. 1-3 inc.

According to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, use is made of a plate or member 4"a provided with pins 5", as described in the first and second embodiments. However, according to this embodiment, a small plastic pad 13 such as for instance a foam-plastic material pad is interposed between the plate or member 4"a and a lining sheet 14'. Although the plate 4"a may be obtained by casting as previously, it is understood that the assembly formed by the plate 4"a, the pad 13 and the lining sheet 14' of the resulting composite covering and cushioning means 20 cannot be obtained by casting techniques. Thus, in this third embodiment, the lining sheet 14 is separately secured or afiixed along its periphery as by high-frequency welding to the periphery of plate 4"a after the flexible pad 13 has been positioned in the space defined between said plate 4"a and outer lining sheet 14'.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate how mass production of the damping and covering means 20 just described may be obtained.

As appears from the said figures, a web 4"a provided with pins 5"a and notches or registration means 15 is provided which will be ultimately cut to form the plates 4"a of the respective covering and cushioning means 20. Thereafter, a band of foam plastic material is placed on the web 4"a, and then outer lining sheets 14a are laid over the band 4"a for peripheral welding, the aligned positioning of the said sheets being facilitated by the registration means 15 of the web 4"a. The peripheral welding together of sheet 14a and Web 4"a is then carried out and lastly the web 4"a can be easily severed to the shape of plate members 4"a and to form the individual covering and cushioning means 20.

Of course the lining sheet 14, like the lining sheet 11 (FIGS. 4 and 5), can be made of plastic material and provided with any desired ornamental pattern or design.

Covering and cushioning means embodying the invention may advantageously be provided for one or both sides of the apparatus casing, especially if the latter is an electric razor. The shape and number of such means may of course be selected as desired according to the type of apparatus concerned. Thus, the means embodying the present invention may be applied to razors, clippers, vibro-massage devices, etc.

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, which have been given by way of example only. In particular, it comprises all the means within the scope of the appended claims constituting technical equivalents to the means described as Well as their combination, should the latter be carried out according to the spirits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable electrical device embodying a housing, at least one gripping and cushioning means secured to a wall of said housing, said means comprising a plate member, a plurality of pins integral with said member and projecting from a face of said member, said wall having holes into which said pins are inserted, said pins being adrneasured to have portions protrude beyond the face of said wall opposite to the first named face, and said portions of said pins being headed by flattening against said wall on said last-named face to secure said member to said wall, and means providing spacing between said plate member and said wall to provide a cushioning effect for vibrations of said device when used.

2. A portable electrical device according to claim 1, wherein said inner surface of said member includes a plurality of flexible ribs forming partitions on the said surface.

3. A portable electrical device as defined in claim 1, wherein said gripping and cushioning means includes an outer lining sheet secured to said member and defining a hollow space between itself and said member and being integral with the latter.

4. A portable electrical device as defined in claim 3, wherein a foamed plastic material is positioned in and fills said hollow space and wherein said outer lining sheet is welded along its borders to the periphery of said plate member to secure said material in said space.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,017,007 10/1935 Liedle 161-111 6 'Kramig et al. 161-111 X Anderson 161-127 X Wandel 156-204 Ragan 161-127 X Hartig 161-161 X Goodman 161-114 X Tann 30-34 Gardner et al. 161-127 X 10 HAROLD ANSHER, Primary Examiner UJS. Cl. X.R. 

